The departure is said to be due to a case of timing. The studio is determined to get this picture into production and ready for a June 9th 2017 release, but Bayona said he needed more time because he has commitments on the Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson-led film he just shot entitled “A Monster Calls”.

As a result, the studio is proceeding without him and say in a statement: “Bayona is no longer able to make World War Z 2 this year, and it is our ambition to do so. He is a wonderful director and we hope to work with him soon.”

Brad Pitt will reportedly reprise his lead role from the first film with a script by Steven Knight that Dennis Kelly rewrote. Shooting will kick off this Summer.